Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
SINN FÉIN’S HOUSING spokesman Eoin O Broin has said he expressed remorse and regret to gardaí, after tweeting an image depicting Garda presence at a famine-era eviction.
Speaking to RTÉ’s News at One, O Broin said he never intended to draw An Garda Síochána into a debate about housing policy.
He said he tweeted the image from the artist known as Spice Bag or Mála Spíosraí, after four weeks of debate over the ending of the temporary moratorium on no-fault evictions.
“My intention when I retweeted Spice Bag’s image was to put the focus on evictions and the Government’s decision, which is going to see, in my view, an increase in the rise of homelessness,” he said.
However, he said members of An Garda Síochána and the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors “read the image differently”.
“When I’ve been speaking to guards, they were kind of saying that they felt that I was almost blaming them for the homeless crisis, that I was blaming them for evictions – of course that was never my intention,” he said.
Asked if he apologised to AGSI general secretary Antoinette Cunningham, O Broin said: “I clarified the remarks and I expressed regret.”
Asked if he expressed remorse, O Broin added: “Absolutely.”
He was not drawn on whether he specifically apologised or whether it was wrong to tweet the image.
“I made it very, very clear that not only did I not intend to, but I didn’t want to continue a row with An Garda Siochana that I never intended to put there in the first place.”
O Broin said he had spoken to gardai in his constituency about the matter.
“I have never been in the position of blaming An Garda Síochána for the housing or homelessness crisis created by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael.”
If only FFG politicians were as outraged by real photos of Gardai assisting masked thugs throwing families out on the street as they are fake outraged by a SF politician posting an artwork depicting the same
@John O’Reilly: gardai don’t ‘assist’ in evictions. Their role is to ensure that there is no breach of the peace.
Sinn fein hates the gardai, something to do with the way they used to stop them robbing banks. They murdered quite a few gardai in their time.
@John O’Reilly: You might enlighten us where?
@John O’Reilly: where can I find these images of masked thugs evicting families???
@John O’Reilly: They are there because they are legally obliged to be there,surely you are not naieve enough to think it’s just random “let’s evict someone today for the crack” so presuming you know that they must be there ,what’s your point/agenda ?
I think SF are the last party in this state that should use history illustrations to embarrass government.
Their most recent history in support of murder and violence is one they ask all to forget. Would they like those innocent dead to be on posters throughout Ireland.
@Ronan Meagle: No not all, it is too easy to forget when mouthing populous rhetoric the very recent history of SF . They live in a world of denial and hope the population at large will not dwell on their association and support for the phscophatic behavior of the IRA in the not too distant past. The innocent murdered could be with is today except for their actions. That is how recent their actions are in a historical context.
@camio55: The anniversary of the GFA is upon us. Yet the condemnation of one side in the conflict suits the narrative of FFG. Perhaps if successive Irish and British governments had not buried their heads in the sand concerning the apartheid state that existed in the six counties it could have been averted. The shaking of heads concerning Republican violence, yet the British state sponsored violence is glossed over. Hypocrisy at it’s best.
Sinn Fein meekly apologising with their usual sincerity! In regards to Sinn Fein and the eviction ban being lifted, I wish they would stop going on about it. I have the deepest sympathy for those it will affect but I don’t think Sinn Fein understand that we live in a free market economy. If a person works, pays their taxes and decide to spend their money on something that is not illegal it is their own right. Person buys a second house for investment or retirement. This is now their property and as such they should be allowed to do what they like with it when they want. The person may want the house to live in themselves, they may need the money desperately. If the government told you all their was a car shortage and that you could not sell your car in the north of Ireland where you could get twice the money or you had to car share with a neighbour everyone would be outraged. Why, because you bought and paid for it with your hard earned money and should be able to do what you want with it. It is not the landlords fault but with Sinn Fein’s attitude the average landlord just wants to get out because if Sinn Fein get in to power it will be no evictions, lowering of rent prices/rent freezes.
@Plumbers Dublin: Well FFG in power since the foundation of this state have been apologising for the last few years for their inept governance of this state .They are responsible for since the foundation of this state concerning the apartheid state that existed in the six counties. Yet you criticise the people who fought against this system. The hypocrisy is typical of FFG.
An non-apology. Politicians are great at them.
@honey badger: why pick on Doherty?
It’s just a house, albeit a huge one.
@John Mulligan: Still didn’t hear any meaningful account of the Cabra house either???
I’ll bet he does (not)! Doesn’t Sinn Fein want to disband the garda entirely if they get in power (or did I hear it wrongly)?
@Tommy Berry: They used to refer to them as ‘Free State RUC’. I think it’s safe to say that they don’t like them much. They’re not big fans of our republic either.
@Tommy Berry: Thank you for correcting my misheard information.
@Paul Whitehead: that was uncalled for. All I noted was something that came up and may have misheard. You could have corrected me politely instead of the insulting tone of your statement
@Richard Starling: Gardai, landlords, developers, revenue, multi national companies and much more…..God Help Us!!
Given the IRA killing of Gardai, and the visits by SF members to their killers in prison, I’m not at all surprised at the Tweet.
I wonder if the Army Council had to approve his “apology”.
@Paul: Ffs.. Any thing new or interesting to add..
In fairness, Simon’s outrage completely took the headlines away from the latest opinion polls! A job well done, Simon. Congratulations
He is a total bag of wind!!
Tone deaf
@Michael Keegan: or cat out of the bag.
This guy is unfit for any office and a liar. Ireland deserves better than him.
he definitely nailed the soyboy aesthetic
new soyjak just dropped
I don’t know why he should ‘regret’ the posting of this piece of protest artwork.
I didn’t take it to be a reflection on individual gardai or on the force in general. Rather I saw it as a metaphor of the State forcing people into homelessness. It’s a perfectly valid response to the lifting of the eviction ban and the lack of suitable and affordable alternative accommodation in the private rented sector at the moment.
And just for the record – I’m not a supporter of Sinn Féin as such (though I have voted for their candidates) but if someone says something that makes sense … … …
It’s all hot air about the lack of affordable housing and evictions. Our political class and that includes SF have decided every person rich and poor from around the world can land here legally or illegally and stay, even those who have deliberately destroyed their documents after boarding an aircraft or paid into some scheme to get residency. So I don’t want to hear another bloody word from any politician of their concern about the lack of houses and the homeless Irish unless it’s in the same sentence requesting the arrest and deportation of illegal migrants (who have broken EU/UN rules ). We all know why there is a lack of houses for Irish people or maybe the multi jabbed sheep can’t still don’t get it. Sick of this fake concern from these wretches in the Dail like they don’t know why it’s happening, they’ve caused it.
Yeah… I think not.
have your say